THE PROBLEM was actually bigger than Rory had expected.

Robby was supposed to be coming over to finally receive some sort of blessing from Layla and Jack to be with Rory and yet, he made no noise when Rory texted him telling that tonight wasn't the best night to show up.

Yes, family dinner was still on, but this one was vastly different from the previous.

Layla and Jack had received this honorary reward for being a "power couple working in the industry" and cameras for this higher up magazine had been there along with several different interviews and the rest of their families (Jerry, Milton, Kim, Rudy, and their grandparents).

It was a major thing that both Belle and Aurora had been told was just a "family dinner" and not some major event that was being held in their living room.

Rory quickly ran the Fenty Beauty mascara wand through her lashes as she heard her father calling out to her for her fifth time to come downstairs before people began to arrive.

She muttered profanities under her breath as she stumbled out of her chair and fixing her white heeled shoes and fixing her long sleeved, sweetheart neckline dress as she rushed downstairs as she applied some random Chanel lipstick was sure she had taken from her mother.

Jack turned hearing Rory's heels clacking down the stairs as she made a pep in her step when she noticed the camera right on Jack's face.

It wasn't hard for Rory to remember that her parents were famous and that she and Belle had the chance to grab onto the fame and use it as they pleased.

But it was hard for her friends to forget that. Of course Demetri remembered who Layla and Jack Brewer truly were, but when it came down to it, the majority of her friends only saw her as Rory Brewer and not "one of Layla and Jack's twins", they would both (the twins) be heavily grateful for that.

"And this is Aurora." Jack introduced to the camera, "Basically a mini me."

The interviewer truly couldn't give less of a damn about Aurora and Belle. They were really there for Layla and Jack and Layla and Jack only.

There house was full of people and those press people weren't leaving until Layla and Jack were rewarded with this honor and the dinner would only start after the fact.

Aurora waved towards the interviewer and looked past them to see Belle giving an interview herself. She brushed her father and the interviewer off before stepping forward the side and pressing her phone against her ear in hopes to get ahold of Robby, but yet again, he hadn't answered.

She sighed, hanging up and turning back towards the crowd in her house.

She brushed her hair behind her ear and rejoined the others, being pulled into various interviews by her parents, people who only wanted the deets on Layla and Jack, and the small group of people who actually cared about Rory and Belle as a whole.

This wasn't knew, in fact, Rory and Belle had been interviewed by Vogue a week prior because they had been signed to IMG Models, you know, the same company who had signed with Bella Hadid, Hari Nef, Maddie Ziegler to name a few.

And though none of this was in Rory's realm, she did it anyway. Just to get out there for her other talents.

After a few minutes and calming down the press who had to sign NDA's, they gathered around the table and Jack stood up with Layla by his side, as he held his champagne glass in his one hand and his arm wrapped around his wife.

"I thank you all for coming all the way down to us to celebrate this wonderful night."

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, cutting Jack's speech short.

Rory slowly stood and Jack sent her a thankful nod as he continued on.

Maybe someone was late, maybe it was another caterer.

Or maybe it was Robby standing on the other side of the door with a bruise forming over his eye and a bouquet of flowers on his hands.

Rory raised her brows in anger as she stepped outside and gently shut the door behind her.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked in a hushed tone. She stepped forward, taking the pad of her thumb and gently rubbing it against his eye. "And what happened to your eye?"

Robby chuckled, slightly wincing at her touch. "It's a long story, but it's the dinner tonight right?"

Rory rolled her eyes, "I told you not to come!"

Robby furrowed his brows, "I'm sorry? My phone's been dead and I don't have a charger."

"My God." She muttered under her breath. She shut eyes for a moment before looking back at him, taking note of the flowers. "Why the flowers?"

"Oh," Robby muttered, holding the flowers out to her, "they're for your mom."

Rory held a small smile as she took the bouquet from him and gently rested her hand against his shoulder.

"She'll love these." She smiled, "But you've got to go. I'm so sorry—"

The door suddenly opened and on the other side stood Jack.

Rory looked at him with a sheepish smile and held the bouquet out to him.

"He brought these for mom. Gorgeous array if you ask me."

"What is he doing here, Aurora?"

"Dad, is it really—"

"Aurora."

Rory sighed, looking back and Jack and over at Robby.

Robby stepped forward. "Mr. Brewer, I was just leaving."

As Robby turned, Rory grabbed his arm, looping it with hers as she held him and the bouquet close to her.

"He's here because he wants your blessing." Rory said.

Jack raised his brows, "Blessing? Rory, there are people inside waiting on us so we can present this award—"

"Which is why you should just say yes and we can all head inside." She smiled.

"Aurora—"

"Mr. Brewer, I really do care for your daughter and I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could make this work." Robby said.

"We?" Jack repeated, "There is no we here."

"He came all the way here to ask for your blessing and you're not going to try and hear him out?" Rory asked, "You did everything to be with mom and nothing stopped you, not even when grandpa hated you."

Jack ran his hand over his face, his hand resting on his hip. She made a valid point. Jack hated paint balling, and yet, he played that game for hours because that's what Layla's father enjoyed, in fact, if it wasn't for him and playing the game, he probably wouldn't be with Layla now.

He looked back inside the house to see Layla distracting the crowd and back over towards Robby and Rory.

His eyes danced between the two and took notice of how Robby gently caressed the back of Rory's hand.

Jack deeply sighed, "I... I will talk with your mom, but for now, get in the house, please."

Robby gave Rory's hand one last squeeze before letting go. Jack allowed her inside the hours first, watching as Rory gave Layla the flowers.

Jack turned his back, looking at Robby.

"I'm trusting Rory's instincts with you, kid." Jack muttered, "You hurt her and there's no more second chances."

Robby only nodded, thanking Jack for the chance before waving him off and making his way home.

Jack pinched the bridge of his nose and made his way back inside.

He'd be damned if he saw Rory get hurt by him.

But he would trust Rory, just like she had always trusted him.

— lucy has something to say !!

thanks for 30k yall are the coolest

bye :))))